You guys have been together for more than 10 years. What’s your secret?

That’s a good question. I think the fact that three of us are related has a lot to do with it. We all are passionate about the music we make and love to perform. It definitely has its highs and lows though.

How does Lennex’s family dynamic (Brian and Brandon are brothers, Derek is their cousin) affect how the band members relate to each other?

Even though only three of us are related, at this point it feels like a five-way brotherhood, or probably more like a marriage. It helps us be more honest with each other. If we don’t like the way someone is acting, we tell him. I actually think it’s helped us learn things about ourselves that no one else would have the courage to tell us.

When you were a contestant on CBS’ “Rock Star: Supernova,” you said that the only reason you were there was to gain exposure for Lennex. That must have meant a lot to your bandmates. What was the response from everyone when you got home?

Overall, people seemed to respect me for saying that. I had always told my band that that was the reason I was going on the show. I don’t know if all of them really believed me though until I actually said it on the show.

What were the best and worst parts about being on the show?

The best thing about being on “Rock Star” was the excitement of it all. It was a pretty huge thing in my life so far. The worst thing about it was having to perform songs you didn’t really like that much and therefore didn’t connect with, and then having to be judged for it. But I guess I knew what I was getting into when I auditioned.

Do you think the band might work with any of the musicians you met on “Rock Star” in the future?

Anything’s possible. At the least, we’ll probably do some shows with some of them. We’ve already done shows with Matt Hoffer, Josh Logan, Lukas Rossi, Jenny Galt and Chris Pierson.

Right now, you’re working on a new album. How do you think it will build on your most recent release, “Part Math, Part Euphoria?”

I can only hope that as songwriters we have continued to mature. Each album we’ve put out so far has been an improvement on the one before, so hopefully we can continue that trend. The hardest thing to do is to write music that you find stimulating and at the same time can be commercially successful. That is our goal.

Can you tell us anything about what inspired the new single, “Thank You and Goodbye?”

That song is inspired by my observation that people are inherently inspired to be good even if they don’t always choose to follow that road.

What’s the songwriting process like for the band? Do the lyrics or the music come first?

Usually, at least some of the music comes first. It allows us to set a tone for what I want to sing about.

What role will your trumpet play on the album, compared to past recordings?

I’m going to try to fit it in whenever it makes sense. I don’t like to put it in songs just to have trumpet on the track. I do believe that it will play a much larger role on the new album though than it did on the last one.

You’ve played shows with bands ranging from Bon Jovi to Finger Eleven. Who did you most enjoy getting to know?

We played a bunch of shows with Saliva this year and had a great time becoming friends with those guys. They never acted like they were better than anyone else.

What are your goals for touring in 2008? Any areas you haven’t played before that you’re hoping to hit?

It’s kind of hard to say right now. We still have a lot of work to do on the new album. We’d love to have something to tour on by this summer. Hopefully we can tour as much of the country as possible.

What’s the most important thing for TWRY readers who might be unfamiliar with the band to know about Lennex?

We are honest about the music we write. Never will we try to be or sound like anyone else, and if you come to one of our shows, we will melt your face off, respectably.

Although some of us may not always remember, there are things in life that transcend music. However, this doesn’t mean that those things can not be supported hand in hand with music and the people that make it. The One Love personifies this idea. Started by Ben Romans of The Click Five and his business partners Cassie Petrey and Jade, The One Love is an project that reaches out to various charitable organizations based on the musicians, artists, producers, and fans that take part. Essentially, the more that people participate, the more that the charities involved benefit. It’s a win win all around, creating a community that everyone can be proud to be a part of.

One may wonder, with a successful band under his belt, how does Ben find the time to dedicate to this project, but it’s not about finding the time, it’s about making the time. That is the common theme throughout, we all have the power to help within us, what we do with it, is in our own hands. With the new year fast approaching, what better time to make that decision than now!

Ben recently took some time during this busy holiday season to talk to TWRY Staffer Stacie about The One Love and of course The Click Five!

Angel Down, the new release from powerhouse vocalist Sebastian Bach, is here just in time to get you out of those winter doldrums.

The fourteen track album, produced by Roy Z., doesn’t fail to hit the mark from start to finish. Hell, he even got Axl Rose to make an appearance on three songs just by sending a text message…not many people can do that folks.

The title track kicks everything off and kicks you in the pants. “Angel Down” just gives you a little taste of what’s in store for the rest of the album, just like that owl in the commercial who asks how many licks it takes to get to the center. The momentum continues with “You Don’t Understand” and the cover of Aerosmith classic “Back In The Saddle” featuring Axl Rose.

The center of this album starts at “(Love Is) A Bitchslap” and doesn’t stop delivering the need to bang your head until the end of “Live & Die”. The notable ones here are “Stuck Inside”, “American Metalhead” and “Negative Light”. These tracks prove that Bach has some of the best backing musicians in music today. The band features guitarists Metal Mike Chlasciak (Painmuseum/Halford) and Johnny Chromatic, bassist Steve DiGiorgio (Testament) and drummer Bobby Jarzombek (Iced Earth).

“By Your Side” will feed the appetite of those waiting for a song to rival “I Remember You” and features Sebastian Bach’s vocal abilities. This tune will likely cause bics-flicking and cell phones waving at a live show.

“Our Love Is A Lie” re-ignites the metal. “Take You Down With Me’, “Stabbin’ Daggers” and “You Bring Me Down” follow suit. “Falling Into You” closes the album and leaves you wanting more.

Another part of the record that is special for Sebastian Bach is the cover art for Angel Down. The painting titled “David Watching” was created by his father, David Bierk, who passed away in 2002.

Angel Down won’t be leaving your CD or mp3 player anytime soon. It’s got a place in my top ten releases for 2007. Yes, it’s that awesome!

“Change!” is a compilation from Hopeless/Sub City Records. The set is one half CD and one half DVD offering up the best of both worlds to rock your eyes and ears; simultaneously if you want! The best thing about it is that it’s a Sub City release, so 5% of its MSRP will be donated to the Hot Topic Foundation. Sub City Records was created as a a part of Hopeless Records to raise funding and awareness for non-profit organizations. It has been active for over four years now and has several releases under it’s belt. The “Change!” compilation is available exclusively at Hot Topic so go pick it up as a holiday gift for someone you dig and consider yourself an upstanding member of society!

The CD offers up quite a collection of some of today’s hottest hardcore/metal/rock acts including 21 tracks by some of my favorites: Sasoin, Chiodos, and As I Lay Dying. It also introduced me to some bands who’s names were familiar but who’s music I had never heard. That’s the cool thing about the compilation is if you’re a fan of this type of music but don’t have the cash flow to buy all of the albums it gives you a great taste of what each of these bands is about and is a great introduction to new up and coming music.

For me the best part about this combo is the DVD. It’s not easy to find quality videos by bands anymore, everything is low quality uploads and “video” channels on tv are about as extinct as dinosaurs. This DVD is 17 clips from the likes of Gallows, Aiden, Escape the Fate and Silverstein. It’s a great excuse to invite a bunch of friends over to rock out to a great collection of videos.

Conceptually I love what they’re doing with this, it’s a whole lot of music for a low low price, how can you argue with that?

Track Listings:

CD
1 Chiodos / Teeth The Size Of Piano Keys
2 Silverstein / If You Could See Into My Soul
3 Saosin / Collapse
4 Alesana / Ambrosia
5 Every Time I Die / We’re Wolf
6 The Chariot / They Faced Each Other
7 The Human Abstract / Nocturne
8 As I Lay Dying / Nothing Left
9 The Devil Wears Prada / Don’t Dink And Drance
10 Parkway Drive / Boneyards
11 August Burns Red / Composure
12 Job For A Cowboy / Embedded
13 See You Next Tuesday / Here, Take This Pill
14 Converge / No Heroes
15 Poison The Well / Letter Thing
16 Memphis May Fire / Cowbell’s Making A Comeback
17 HORSE The Band / Murder
18 Gallows / Orchestra of Wolves
19 Aiden / We Sleep Forever
20 Pierce The Veil / I’d Rather Die Than Be Famous
21 The Fall of Troy / Cut Down All The Trees And Name The Streets After Them

DVD
1 Chiodos / The Words Best Friend Become Redefined
2 Silverstein / If You Could See Into My Soul
3 Boys Night Out / Up With Me
4 Alesana / Ambrosia
5 Escape The Fate / Situations
6 Every Time I Die / We’re Wolf
7 The Chariot / They Faced Each Other
8 As I Lay Dying / Nothing Left
9 The Human Abstract / Vela, Together We Await The Storm
10 August Burns Red / Composure
11 Converge / No Heroes
12 Job For A Cowboy / Embedded
13 Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster / Dry The River
14 HORSE / The Band Murder
15 Gallows / In The Belly Of A Shark
16 Aiden / We Sleep Forever
17 Kaddisfly / Empire

HURT (J. Loren on vocals, Evan Johns on drums, Josh Ansley on bass, and Paul Spatola on guitar) followed up their highly acclaimed debut release Volume I with the aptly titled Volume II on September 25th. Volume II was an extension of Volume I, however, much had changed since the first album. While Volume I was more of lead singer and chief songwriter J. Loren’s project, Volume II tapped more into the band as a whole involving everyone in the mix. Guitarist Paul Spatola even collaborated on writing a few of the newer songs with J. including the first single Ten Ton Brick.

Overall Volume II shows the growth of the band as a unit rather than as individuals. Volume II picks up right where Volume I left off through the journey of J. Loren’s life. The songs still hold the same emotion, intensity and delivery yet now they are backed by all kinds of inventive arrangements and instruments that the rest of the band brings to the table.

Already being asked if Volume III will follow the band is reluctant to respond saying they want to surprise everyone and offer up something that fans won’t be expecting. HURT are currently on tour with Seether and what fans CAN expect is an intense live show with inventive ways of bringing the studio sound to the stage.

Guitarist Paul took some time off of their current tour to chat with TWRY about the new album, his insane ability to play every instrument known to man and his past life as a tattoo artist!

It’s been almost two years since we’ve heard anything new from Simple Plan, but don’t think that they’ve been on vacation. Planning the follow up of two smash hit albums with sales of over seven million copies can keep a band busy! Simple Plan (Pierre Bouvier on vocals, Chuck Comeau on drums, Jeff Stinco on guitar, Sebastien Lefebvre on guitar and David Desrosiers on bass) have been slaving away on their third studio album that drops on February 12th. Teasing fans with the single When I’m Gone, Simple Plan is sure that they’ve written their most diverse album to date.

Bringing in the heavy artillery of Nate “Danja” Hills (who has worked with Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and Duran Duran) and Max Martin (who has worked with Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, and James Blunt) the band put together a collection of songs that took them into unchartered territory and challenged them to push themselves in new directions both lyrically and musically; fusing together different genres of music.

Self-titling the album only seemed natural considering how personal the album is to the band. Self described as “angry, negative, depressive lyrics over really poppy, uplifting music” the band recruited producer Dave Fortman (yes the same one from Ugly Kid Joe!) to produce their album. Having produced albums by Evanescence and Mudvayne, Dave added the polished edge that the band needed.

Currently on a whirlwind press tour and playing holiday shows across the United States, frontman Pierre took some time to chat with us about the new album, the personal inspiration behind some of the tracks and everything new in the world of Simple Plan.

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